Agenda announced for Profibus, Profinet and IO-Link seminar

A free-to-attend seminar at the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry in October 2018 can be summed up as ‘How to get the best out of Profibus, Profinet and IO-Link.’ Opening with a keynote address given by PI Chairman Karsten Schneider covering developments in Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), PROFINET in Process applications, Advanced Physical Layer (APL), OPC-UA and Industry 4.0, the event will address the key practical issues arising from the use of digital communications technologies in automated manufacturing and process industry applications, with particular attention being paid to network design, installation and commissioning through to functional safety & cybersecurity, EMC and Industry 4.0.

The presenter will lead the audience through the basics of good network design, introducing some common issues that they will then be encouraged to work together to solve, applying what they have been taught. The format will be that of an interactive discussion using large screen schematics to help redesign the network until it is made to work properly.

A look at the available device configuration tools and their development including the move to unify the different types into one format – FDI. This will be followed by a live demonstration of Profibus and Profinet device configuration using an existing open platform and web browser option.

This paper will firstly discuss PROFIsafe, why we have the solution, what should be planned out, elements to be aware of and what PROFIsafe does well. This paper will then spend a little time covering the basics of legislation and responsibilities for safety and functional safety. The paper will then go on to quickly consider basic Cybersecurity aspects for Industrial Automation in the UK market.

New PI Guidelines for Functional Bonding and Shielding of Profibus and Profinet – Peter Thomas, Control Specialists

The ever-increasing use of high-frequency switching devices in industrial automation can result in high-frequency currents circulating in an equipotential bonding network that was not designed for this purpose. The absence of a proven low-impedance bonding network can result in these currents taking alternative, and often undesirable, routes. Occasionally these will be the shields of industrial network cables such as Profibus and Profinet that in turn can lead to intermittent communications problems. This presentation will discuss the issues in more detail and will explain the relevance of the recently released PI guidelines

IO-Link Technology – Adrian Sorsby, Balluff

This presentation will be covering what a typical IO-Link systems consists of, how it interfaces to the control system and the benefits that can be derived from this increased level of communication with IO-Link devices. These include: easier handling of measurement signals, remote and automatic device parameterisation, smart sensor diagnostic functions, safety over IO-Link whilst also being an enabler for Industrial IoT and Industry 4.0 strategies.

For real-time communication with hard, non-negotiable time boundaries for end-to-end transmission latencies, all devices in this network need to have a common time reference and therefore, need to synchronise their clocks among each other. This is not only true for the end devices of a communication stream, such as an industrial controller and a manufacturing robot but also true for network components, such as Ethernet switches. Only through synchronised clocks is it possible for all network devices to operate in unison and execute the required operation at exactly the required point in time.

This is a subject that will be of interest to Profinet network designers, installers and operators as the need for accurate time synchronisation, both within an individual network and across the whole enterprise, becomes paramount.

Supported by a tabletop exhibition of the latest products from 12 of the UK’s specialist suppliers, the seminar will be of great value to designers, production/system engineers, instrument technicians/engineers and C&I engineers involved in the design, operation and maintenance of modern automated factories and process plant. Covering key application areas such as mechanical handling and logistics, robotics, automotive engineering, electrical and electronics assembly, control systems and energy management, pulp and paper, chemical, utilities, pharmaceutical, packaging and printing, the event will be supported by an exhibition with demonstrations of actual tools used in design, configuration, fault finding and maintenance.

Attendance is free of charge to pre-registered delegates from the User community, i.e. companies that own, operate, design, build or maintain automated plant. The event will provide delegates with an excellent networking opportunity and the ability to speak to experts.